Govt rushes 2,000 troopers to Assam

The Govt rushes 20 companies of paramilitary forces as toll in four days of ULFA attacks in the state rises to 68.

indiaUpdated: Jan 08, 2007 22:56 IST

Indo-Asian News Service None

The government on Monday rushed 20 companies of various central paramilitary forces, comprising around 2,000 personnel, to Assam as the toll in four days of attacks by the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) rose to 68.

Home ministry officials said the decision to deploy around 2,000 additional paramilitary personnel in the strife-torn state was taken after Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal briefed Home Minister Shivraj Patil about the situation.

Jaiswal on Sunday paid a daylong visit to Tinsukia and two other affected districts of the state in the wake of the violence unleashed by ULFA militants since Saturday.

After meeting Patil, Jaiswal told reporters that Assam would not be allowed to face any shortage of forces.

Home Secretary VK Duggal, who also briefed Patil, was asked to summon the state chief secretary and the director general of police to New Delhi to discuss the security scenario in the northeastern state on January 12.